Message is about engagement.
What is engagement? Engagement is a mission; a calling. You call others into a positive future. A positive visualization of our story together assures creative and sustainable present action. We learn how to stay focused on collective desire in the reality of the day-to-day. Joint possession of the future is essential to present participation.
Engagement is where one’s authentic self encounters challenge with confidence. Confidently freeing authenticity is a pledge to the impact of one’s leadership.
Leading others to participate in seeing a bright, collective future, you empower them with understanding of what it looks like to be in the moment with that future. Seeing themselves in the unfolding story, the story is given life as their present energy is freed.
Story visualization is not a ‘nice-to-have.’ It is an absolute necessity to collective success. A believable, engaging story touches the substance of desire. Knowing the story we desire to tell guides us in discovering present measures to assure the story is indeed unfolding as desired.
Engagement is about what ought to be done; not the noisy, misleading ‘shoulds’ of the busy, distracted world around us. In the light of your unique message – spoken in your purpose – engagement becomes an obligation that is grasped willingly by those under the influence of your service.
For more like this and the developing series around the 7 skills, see: 21st Century Leadership Skills
I’m totally with you on the importance of knowing and telling your story. Great explanation of engagement and why it is vital to leadership.
Jeff,
I love the way you explain and talk about engagement. Yes, it’s part of calling. It’s clear in energy and effect.
Sue Painter
I think that the idea of sharing the vision and story behind your endeavors takes the notion of “vision” to another level. And the term “engagement” really nicely describes the leader’s integration of others in the process. Great article!
Jeff,
I love the idea of engagement as our mission – that we should feel compelled to draw others into our vision for the future. And what better way to do that than with a well- crafted story? I think it relates to the Yeats quote that education is not the filling of a bucket but the lighting of fire. Leadership, also, is the lighting of a fire and the ability to fan it into flame.
Beautiful, Jeff. As so much of my work involves deep listening – I often neglect, and sometimes struggle with articulating the inner landscape of my story. This is a beautiful reminder to engage in this way. Thanks!
Thanks for the great definition of engagement! I love engaging others in my life through conversation, work, play and life in general.
Thanks!
Love your use of language Jeff! You are a gifted writer, no doubt about it! Engagement is something I am working on incorporating more into my health care class that I teach to all our new practice members. Right now, it’s a lecture….BORING, so thanks for this!!
I’m right there with ya Jeff! I spend a lot of time coaching my clients around engaging others into a vision. This is a very important skill for anyone to have.
Sandy